MEDLEVAL REMEDIES FORTHE PLAGUE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2320, 18 August 1898, Page 48

MEDLEVAL REMEDIES FOR THE PLAGUE.

The plague waters, which form a common feature in all books on medicine (and even on cookery) down to lhe middle of (lie eighteenth century were nearly all designed for prevention rather than cure. They are mere heibal concoctions, for the moft part of a Aery innocent, nature, and were resorted to on the slightest rumour of infection lons after the plague had ceased to recur in England. Concerning the actual treatment of the disease after it had once seized on the pationt very little information is to be gained. By far the greater number of persons perished without any species of relief being attempted for them. Many instances are on record of plague victims in districts yet uninfected being turned out to die in the open, deprived of the commonest offices of charity- Jn the worst seasons of epidemic hundreds perished in their own homes deserted by all. At the pesthouses some course of treatment must have been attempted, but the only record piesorved with regard to them is the weekly tale of deaths, and that can tell little, since tho amount of accommodation is not known. In 1603 three hospitals were available for plague cases, the pest-houses in Finsbury Fields and Tot lull Fields, and the Bmlewell. near fleet

street, but it does not appear that they were ever resorted to of free will. Domestic servants, apprentices, and dependents weie often compulsorily removed to them by masters who dreaded infection, and they formed at least a shelter for the homeless poor to die in. It lias been seen that the doctors, as a rule, preferred to follow then; richer patients out of town and practice with preventive drugs. In cases where, at a great price to persons of consideration, tho physician lent his presence to the infected chamber, it was his custom to stand near the door sniffing essences, and prescribe according to a thoroughly conventional routine which varied little from one century to another. As a matter ol tact, when the pationt was actually attacked, all was practically over in the worst seasons, and when the epidemic was subsiding Nature worked her own cure unless the constitution was undermined by mistaken treatment. The usual plan was to begin v/ith "letting blood," and this operation, performed by tiie apprentice or assistant, without whom the physician of repute never stirred, entailed no actual contact v/ith the patient upon the great man. Herbol waters brewed of endive, century, ivyberries, &c. were next freely administered to induce a heavy sweat, and a favourite drug at the commencement of the attack was saffron enclosed in an egg shell, roasted and brazed in a mortar, and drunk with ale. Cedar wood, juniper, rosemary, and other sweet-smelling tilings were ordered to be burnt in the sick room, and sometimes under the bed, that the patient might be disinfected ; and one writer, in'ls94-, directs that a basin of new milk be left standing in the room, which after two days will draw all the infection to it. Three or four large onions laid on the ground will effect tho same purpose, but thoy must be lot. lie there for ten days and then' Ivuvied deep in the. ground. Ti\c?e measures having been taken, t'ae next step was directed io the treatment of tho plague bubo, and here the authorities differed widely ; pome urged its immediate incision, because- "if Nature Vi weak and not able to expel the venom fasi enough, by insensible transpiration, Ihe venom returneth back to the hearl. and f-o presently dcslroyeth Nature." Others, again, believed the use of tho lancot to be fatal, and relied on poultices made of onions or bread, which were* to be buried after use, partly, no doubt, as a wiFe method of precaution, but partly also with reference to that leaning towards magic noticeable in so much of the medical practice of the period. A barbarous species of poultice much in vogue was to " set hermes on the sore — they will draw out the venom and die." The speedy death of the birds, whose place was supplied by others, was used as an argument in favour of the contagiousness of the plogue. a point then, as now, a matter of doubt to some ot those whose ob&enations h'.\d beou most clo«c.

A curious prescription, which it may be believed only the "richer sort" could coinpaes in times of panic, was for a quilt "to be laid on the heart of the sick after sweating." It was compounded of flowers of waterlilies, borage, buglos&e, red rose leaves, balm, rosemary, aloes, cloves, iuniper seeds, saffrons, bone of deer's heart, &c., " quilted in crimson or scarlet-coloured taffeta." Such were the methods and lcsources of the regular physician. — The Hospital.